Vehicle-wheel.



N0. 826,093. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

G. T. DREW. VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED HAHN 17, 1906.

23 I 2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

. 5 Q 1- I 2. 7 1 f 3 G. T. DREW.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGEiT. DREW, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

masseuse. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

My invention re ates to improvements in vehicle-wheels, and has reference particularl to the manner of mounting wheelspo es.

. Theinvention has for its objects the pro-z yision of a'more extensive space for the housmg of wheel-spokes than heretofore presented and a construction which will permit a ready removal of'a defective spoke without dismembering the wheel, also to provide a hubhaving a less outward projection than heretofore presented, so that it may not be obtrusive.

by which the ob'ectionable gather of the wheel is avoid and by which larger antifriction-balls are used than formerly. I

' The novel devices employed are fully at scribed herein and are illustrated by the 4 the continuous groove 3, having the walls 4' drawings, wherein' A Figure 1 represents a vertical elevation of the invention, the parts being generally in section. Fig. 2 represents a vertical elevation of the cylinder 1. Fig. 3 represents an end view of the invention, showing manner of mounting the spokes. Fi 4 represents a sectional view of disk 6 and s eeve 7. Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents a vertical elevation of the socket-plate.

I construct a cylinder 1, having vertical end walls 2 and 3, anda lengthwise opening 4 therethrough, andupon the eriphery of the cylinder, near one end thereoi I construct and 5. I construct the disk 6, having the outer wall 24 and having a greater diameter than cylinder 1, andnear its periphery construct integrally thereon the circular sleeve 7, .thereby forming the chamber 8,-and the disk isprovided with the small openings 15. I provide the socket-plate 9 of a diameter similar to that of disk 6 with a small opening 10 at its center. Disk 6 is alsoprovided with a small central opening 11, and these apertures are adapted to receive the bolt 12 therethrough, and I provide a series of apertures 13 near the outer edge of socket-plate 9, corresponding to the openings 15 of disk 6, these Application filed March 17,1208: Serial No. 806.620.

. v tion. The invention-also presents a construction openings 13 and 15 bein ada ted to receive a series of bolts 14 theret oug The innercircular wall of sleeve 7 is provided with a circular groove 16, having the walls 17 and 18. The diameter of that part of the cylinder 1 at walls 4 and 5 is somewhat less radial-1y considered than the space occu- K pied by chamber 8, and I place cylinder 1 within this chamber in a manner so that walls 4 and 5 are opposite walls 17 and 18, respectively,'the grooves 3 and 16 cooperating to form a circular openin 19, within which the balls 20 are adapted to e seated.

The disk 6 and sleeve 7 are preferably formed as one casting, and I provide the therethrough of the balls 20 and provide t e plug 22, havingihread-and-groove connec- After cylinder lhas been placed with.

in chamber 8 a series of balls '20 are passed aperture 21 in a radial direction through the V s eeve sufficiently wideto allow the passa e through aperture 21, so that the space of the, circular opening 19 is occupied by. these balls in a manner so that the latter will have positions closely adjacent to each other, after. which the plug 22 is screwed into position.

The inner end23 of s okes 23 of the vehi ole-wheel are radially p aced and their several ends meet at bolt 12. The tioned on a plane parallel with wa l 24 of disk the adjacent plate 9, these walls cooperating to form a housing or socket for the spokes, and these spokes are firmly held in position between these walls by means of the bolt 12 and the series of bolts 14, already described. The large openin 4' within cylinder 1 is adapted to have t are'posi-f v 6, between the last-named wall and that of ead-and-groove connec tion with the vehicle-axle, (not shown,) this cylinder 1 being screwed upon and made rigid with the vehicle-axle.

I provide a suitable casing 25, being a cylin'drical shell, its walls generally conforming to the outer walls of the disk and c linder. This casing performs no function in olding the parts together, but it prevents dust from entering the aperture 26 between the cylinder and sleeve, and it is desirable to preserve the balls from the presence of sand or dust, as is evident. The casing makes a thread-and groove contact at 27 upon the periphery of disk 6 and presents a neat finish closely adjacent to the spokes.

From the description thus given the function of the parts will be readily understood.

. In assembling the parts the spokes are placed radially upon the vertical Wall 24 of disk 6, and sOcketlate 9 is then secured to disk 6 by means 0 the series of bolts 14 and bolt 12,

thereby confining the spokes Within their is revolving it will be understood, of course,

that disk 6 is then in a revolving motion, carrying with it sleeve 7, socket-plate 9, the series of bolts/and casing 25, and the weight of the vehicle at all times is upon the series of balls.

It will be noted that on account of the construction employed balls of large diameter may be used. The housing for the spokes is so extensive that no dishing the spokes is required, and there is practically no hub extending or protruding beyond the outer plane of the spokes. 'lhe spokes are accessible, and a person generally unskilled may by use of simple tools readily uncouple the parts in order to remove a defective spoke. lit will also be noted that the cylinder is extended in a direction transversely to the spokes. The function. of this extension is to increase the surface contact of the cylinder upon the axle to add to the strength of the parts, and the degree of this extension maybe greater or less, as desired. practice I have at times dispensed with the casing 25. It operates in no manner whatever in holding the parts together; but it is a convenient onst-cover and cans c I finished appearance. The parts are held together by contact of the balls with grooves 3 and 16 upon one side or" the disk, and upon the opposite side of the disk the parts are held together by the bolts 12 and 14, as explained. It will also be noted that cyl inder 1 may be considered one of the integral ends of ,vehiclemxle, in' which event the longitudinal aperqure t in said cylinder, as wel as threads upon the inner wall of said cylinder, may be dispensed with.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is l. A vehicle-wheel in combination, comprising peripherally grooved cylinder; a

sleeve in vin a circular groove ormed upon its vial an inner spoke-housing plate;

vehicle-wheel spokes; an outer spoke-housing plate; a part of said peripherallygrooved cy1-- .end wall of said a circular groove formed upon its inner wall;

an inner spoke-housing plate; V vehicle-Wheel spokes; an'outer spoke-housing plate; a part of said peripherally-grooved cylinder having a housing within said sleeve; a series of balls seated Within said grooves of said cylinder and sleeve; one end of said vehicle-wheel spokes being seated between said inner and outer housing-plates, and means to'form a.

rigid connection between said inner and outer l rousing-plates.

3. Avehicle-wheel, in combination, comprising a peripherally-grooved cylinder, an

apertured sleeve having a circular groove formed upon its innerwall; an inner spokehousing plate; vehicle-Wheel spokes; an outer s oke-housing plate; a part of said periphera lyegrooved cylinder having a housing Within said apertured sleeve; a series of balls seated within said grooves of said cylinder and apertured sleeve; one end of said vehiclewheel spokes being seated between said inner and outer housing-plates; means to form a rigid connection between said inner and outer housing-plates, and means to make a closure of the aperture of said sleeve.

4. A vehicle-Wheel, in combination; comprising a peripherally-grooved cylinder, an

apertured sleeve having a circular groove formed upon its inner wall; an inner spokehousing plate; vehicle-wheel s okes an outer spoke-housing late; a part or said peripherally-grooved cy inder having a housing within said. apertured sleeve; a series of balls seated" Within said grooves of said cylinder and apertured sleeve; one end of said vehicle- Wheel spokesbeing seated between said inner and outer housing-plates; means to form a rigid connection between said inner and outer housing-plates means to make a closure of the aperture of said sleeve, and a casing inclosin said apertured sleeve and the periphery an d peripherally-grooved cylin- In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence or" two witnesses.

' GEORGE T. DREW.

Witnesses:

Hininvr A. Srnnens, WILLIAM D. Roenns.

Ice 

